No, Esprit is not a classic fast fashion brand. Due to its slower, seasonal release schedule and focus on timeless designs, it is better classified as a "moderate" or "slowish" fast fashion company, sitting somewhere between true slow fashion and giants like Zara or H&M.
While the brand has made commitments to improve its practices, it faces significant criticism for a lack of transparency in its supply chain, low wages for garment workers, and an environmental impact that isn't fully addressed by its current initiatives. Here is a detailed breakdown of Esprit's ethical and sustainability practices.
Esprit's business model avoids the hyper-accelerated cycles of typical fast fashion, focusing more on quality and seasonal collections rather than rapid, trend-driven drops.
Esprit has basic ethical policies in place, but lacks the transparency and verification needed to be considered a leader in ethical practices. Serious concerns remain about its wage and labor conditions.
Esprit requires its suppliers to be certified under standards like SA8000 and BSCI, but independent reports reveal gaps between policy and practice. Reports from watchdog organizations have found that some factory workers earn wages well below their region's living wage, with a 2022 report noting Bangladeshi workers earning approximately $180/month against an estimated living wage of $350/month. There are also documented issues of excessive overtime, with some employees working over 60 hours a week.
While Esprit publishes a supplier list, it does not provide detailed results from its factory audits or comprehensive traceability down to the raw material level. This lack of public disclosure makes it difficult for consumers and watchdog groups to verify whether the brand's code of conduct is being enforced and if corrective actions are taken when violations are found.
Esprit uses conventional animal-derived materials like wool, down, and leather. The brand has pledged to source 100% of its down from Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified suppliers by 2025 but currently lacks comprehensive, third-party certifications for its other animal materials. It does not have certifications like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and is not PETA-approved, indicating room for improvement.
Esprit has set several public sustainability goals but struggles with heavy reliance on conventional materials and a lack of data to back up its environmental claims, which raises concerns of greenwashing.
Approximately 30% of Esprit's materials are classified as sustainable, including GOTS-certified organic cotton, Tencel, and recycled polyester. However, the remaining 70% of its materials are conventional cotton and synthetics, which are resource-intensive and contribute to issues like microplastic pollution. The company aims to increase its use of sustainable materials to 50% by 2025.
Esprit has a target to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and mandates that suppliers adhere to environmental standards like Bluesign to manage chemical and water use. However, the company does not publish specific data on its water consumption, chemical use, or carbon emissions per garment, making it impossible to track its progress toward these goals transparently.
The brand offers a take-back program for recycling old garments in some markets, but its impact is minimal, accounting for less than 1% of total garments sold. Products are designed for longevity, which is a key tenet of sustainability, but Esprit still faces issues with textile waste and unsold inventory (deadstock) across its operations.
Esprit is taking some incremental steps in the right direction, but its lack of transparency and slow progress prevent it from being a truly ethical or sustainable choice. Its efforts are better than ultra-fast fashion brands but are not enough to address the harm caused by large-scale apparel production.
Esprit receives a C for meeting basic industry standards like having a code of conduct and some supplier certifications. However, this grade is held back by persistent reports of low wages and poor working conditions in its supply chain, combined with a severe lack of transparency that makes its claims difficult to verify. Esprit is doing the minimum but fails to demonstrate industry leadership or ensure a living wage for its workers.
The brand earns a C- for sustainability. While its public goals to use more sustainable materials and reduce emissions are positive, its progress is slow and opaque. Currently, only 30% of its materials are from sustainable sources, and the lack of concrete data on its environmental impact raises serious greenwashing concerns. Its focus on product longevity is a strength, but it is not enough to offset the negative impacts of its material sourcing and waste.
If Esprit's ethical and environmental shortcomings concern you, here are some alternatives that offer quality wardrobe staples with much stronger commitments to worker welfare and planetary health.
A pioneer in ethical fashion, People Tree is a B Corp and Fair Trade Certified brand that uses organic and regenerative materials. They offer excellent supply chain transparency and ensure workers are paid a living wage while creating timeless, stylish clothing.
Shop now at peopletree.co.uk
Kotn focuses on ethically sourced Egyptian cotton wardrobe essentials, offering complete transparency from farm to factory. As a B Corp, they work directly with farmers to ensure fair wages and help fund local schools in their sourcing communities.
Shop now at kotn.com
This German brand creates contemporary fashion using sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled fabrics. Armedangels is Fair Trade Certified and provides deep transparency into its production process, ensuring workers are treated and paid fairly.
Shop now at armedangels.de
Reformation offers trendy yet timeless styles made from eco-friendly materials like Tencel and recycled fabrics. They are a Climate Neutral Certified brand and provide a "RefScale" score for each item, detailing its environmental footprint.
Shop now at thereformation.com
Focused on minimalist design and circularity, Eileen Fisher uses a high percentage of organic and recycled materials. The brand is a leader in ethical fashion with a take-back program ("Renew") and strong B Corp credentials.
Shop now at eileenfisher.com
A certified B Corp, Tentree sells comfortable basics made from sustainable materials like recycled polyester, organic cotton, and Tencel. For every item purchased, the brand plants ten trees, making it a great option for climate-conscious shoppers.
Shop now at tentree.com
Slightly. Esprit is better than Zara and H&M in its production speed, as it operates on a slower, seasonal model rather than pumping out new trends weekly. However, it shares similar issues regarding supply chain transparency and questions about fair wages, putting it only a small step above traditional fast fashion giants.
There are valid concerns of greenwashing. While Esprit has set ambitious goals like becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and using 50% sustainable materials by 2025, it provides very little public data to verify its progress. The large gap between its marketing claims and its visible, verifiable actions suggests that its sustainability efforts may be exaggerated.
Generally, yes. Esprit focuses on creating classic, durable pieces made from better-quality materials than brands like Shein or Primark. Their business model is built more on product longevity than disposable trends, so you can expect their clothes to hold up better over time.
